The Cafe Racer Reborn: The Best New Stuff of 2014

To celebrate 90 years of creating bikes that push toward the future, BMW tapped its history to build the back-to-basics 2014 BMW R nineT. A study in cafe racer essentials, this roadster punches the nostalgia button with its husky proportions and spare, industrial bodywork. It also pushes the genre forward with customizable components, including a removable rear section that transforms the bike from a passenger-friendly ride to a taut, ready-to-rumble solo-seater. Though the substance behind the style is a throbbing air- and oil-cooled 1,170cc boxer-style powerplant, the thrill here is living out your Wild One fantasies. [$14,990; bmwmotorcycles.com]